I don't know what kind of football player Vic Wharton will end up being

[Clockwork Orange]

but if he works half as hard on his game as he does recruiting other guys to come play with him then he will be a leader at UT pretty early on. I've never seen a recruit so visibly and publicly hit the trail and try to work up momentum for his future team . . . and it sure sounds like he's got TK2 and now Hurd in that same mode. Thank you Twitter.

Wharton's offer list is not quite as impressive as the other two but I don't think we could have handpicked a better guy to reel in as our first commitment for 2014. Kid is doing serious work.

[101stDad]

Part of Wharton's issue is that he's been tabbed by some as a malcontent because he played at 3 different schools during his first 3 years of high school.  He played at Knoxville Catholic his freshman year and had a bit of an attitude according to some folks from Catholic that I have talked to, but he seems to have grown up and matured, as one would expect.  Bottom line - he's a tremendous athlete and will either prove or disprove his doubters. 

[Clockwork Orange]

Part of Wharton's issue is that he's been tabbed by some as a malcontent because he played at 3 different schools during his first 3 years of high school.  He played at Knoxville Catholic his freshman year and had a bit of an attitude according to some folks from Catholic that I have talked to, but he seems to have grown up and matured, as one would expect.  Bottom line - he's a tremendous athlete and will either prove or disprove his doubters. 

He certainly doesn't come across as having attitude issues. In fact with the way he reaches out to kids from all over the South he seems like a big-time team player. But I guess we'll all see once he's wearing the orange.

[Clockwork Orange]

LOL. A commenter at RockyTopTalk just referred to him as our "Recruiting Co-Wharton-ator."

[101stDad]

He certainly doesn't come across as having attitude issues. In fact with the way he reaches out to kids from all over the South he seems like a big-time team player. But I guess we'll all see once he's wearing the orange.

I agree with you, CO.  Just passing on some of the "knocks" that have been out there on him since his freshman year at Catholic. 

[Inspector Vol]

It appears that recruiting via twitter by committed players is the way around the recruiting contact rules and I suspect it has been a big part of other teams success in recruiting. Glad to see we joined the rest of the world now in this regard.

Although kids aren't signed until they sign, it would seem unlikely anyone would try to help bring in others and then leave you at the altar. Unless Butch pulls a dooley this year I think we will have a great class. May not hit top 10 since we need to take so many linemen but I can live with that. 

[BanditVol]

It appears that recruiting via twitter by committed players is the way around the recruiting contact rules and I suspect it has been a big part of other teams success in recruiting. Glad to see we joined the rest of the world now in this regard.

It is great to have these players burning up the twitterverse, but if I am not mistaken, I think some or even a lot of the restrictions on coaches contacting players have been lifted.

[101stDad]

It is great to have these players burning up the twitterverse, but if I am not mistaken, I think some or even a lot of the restrictions on coaches contacting players have been lifted.

Yes, they have and a lot of coaches/schools weren't in favor of that.  It's opened up a lot of gray area.  I can't recall what school it was, but I saw last night that a school has decided not to continue recruiting a player because an assistant coach "shared information via Twitter" that was not allowed to be shared by NCAA rules.

The intent is probably good, but some of those gray areas need to be addressed.